Cinemixtape

Blu-ray / DVD Spotlight (August 14th, 2012)

“Jaws” was the birth of the summer blockbuster, but it almost ended Steven Spielberg’s career before it began. The production was historically troubled and at least one of the film’s brilliant creative choices was made out of necessity. The animatronic shark, named “Bruce,” never worked, forcing Spielberg to allude to its presence throughout the film (rather than show it). The production went long and way over-budget, and Spielberg was sure he’d be fired. As we all know, the result was a stunning piece of cinema. John Williams’ classic score, combined with Spielberg’s incredible realization of the kind of “popcorn cinema” nobody knew they wanted, gave us a thrill ride for the ages.

Whether you first saw the film at the drive-in in 1975, watched it on VHS in the early 90s (as I did), or have just recently discovered it, it remains one of the great communal filmic experiences. This week, “Jaws” is seeing its first high-definition release and the buzz has been building for nearly 6 months now. The transfer is gorgeous and among the extras is the long-awaited feature length doc, “The Shark Is Still Working.” This is one of the highest profile Blu-ray releases of the year and it should not be missed.

-J. Olson

Rating: ★★★★★ out of ★★★★★ (Classic)

Blu-ray Features:

Digitally remastered and fully restored from high resolution 35MM original film elements to get the most from your HDTV

Digital Copy of Jaws (download by 12/31/2013)

UltraViolet Copy of Jaws (download/redeem by 12/31/2013)

The Shark is Still Working: The Impact & Legacy of Jaws – All-new feature-length documentary featuring never-before-seen footage and interviews with cast and crew including Steven Spielberg, Richard Dreyfuss and Roy Scheider

The Making of Jaws: A feature-length documentary featuring interviews with key cast and crew

Jaws: The Restoration – An all-new in-depth look at the intricate process of restoring the movie

Deleted Scenes and Outtakes From the Set: An insider’s look at life on the set of Jaws, featuring an interview with Steven Spielberg

Storyboards Production Photos

Marketing Jaws

Jaws Phenomenon

Original Theatrical Trailer

Pocket BLU: App for smartphones and tablets – take content on the go! BD-Live: Internet-connected features

My Scenes: Bookmark your favorite scenes

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